Broken Homes, Broken Lives: End Forced Evictions in Chad

Broken Homes, Broken Lives: End Forced Evictions in Chad

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The first wave of demolitions followed an armed attack on N’Djamena in February 2008 by a coalition of opposition armed groups. Shortly afterwards, on February 22, 2008, Chadian President Idriss Déby Itno issued a decree authorizing the destruction of what were called illegally constructed buildings and structures. The first decree applied to two neighbourhoods of N'Djamena - Gardole and Walia Angosso. The destruction was later extended into other areas such as Farcha, Atrone and Chagoua.

Houses were still being demolished in late July 2009, and more and more people are at risk of being forcibly evicted.

Most of the forced evictions have been carried out by the security forces. They order people to leave their properties and bar any residents who are not at home from returning.

Lack of Due Process

Flouting the law and denying due process, the authorities did not consult residents before evicting them. In many cases residents were given little or no time to relocate.

In the neighborhood of Diguel Est, for example, residents with ownership papers appealed to magistrates to intervene. A court issued an injunction in favour of the residents, but the mayor of N’Djamena ignored it and ordered the houses to be demolished. This led to the magistrates union threatening to strike.

Amnesty International has confirmed that many evictions were illegal and in violation of international human rights standards and Chadian law.

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